The Importance Of Self Care As A Woman

Self care has become such an “it” word, but what does it really mean, and what does it actually entail. Self care essentially refers to any self initiated function designed to perform some kind of necessary function, normally in relation to human health or livelihood. Traditionally self care falls into six categories; physical, emotional, personal, social, spiritual, and practical, with each category representing a different function.

Physical self care normally refers to your basic physical needs like showering and eating; the things that make your body feel good. In contrast emotional self care pertains to how you process emotions in a healthy way. Do you have a high emotional iq with the ability to actually feel your emotions, while developing good coping mechanisms for the things that trouble you. Personal self care involves any activity you initiate in which you are trying to get to know yourself. Examples include trying new things, spending time alone, and establishing goals. Unlike personal self care, social self care revolves around getting social interactions, creating boundaries, and working on your own relationships with other people. Taking personal self care a step forward is spiritual self care. Spiritual self care are activities in which you discover your own belief systems, seek community, and learn new things. An example of spiritual self care would be meditation or going to church. The last category of self care is in my opinion the one most often forgotten because it is the least glamorous of all, and that is practical self care. Practical self care involves all the things that we are required to do, and while good for us, we may not want to do. For example things like your finances, chores, and work are all examples of practice self care.

While self care is important for everyone, and it is essential that we take care of ourselves, for women it is even more important much of the time. Traditionally women tend to be the givers, often giving until they are so run down that they are burnt out, which is why self care is so critical for women. Women have to start taking care of themselves, even if it is something simple like taking five minutes to sit by themselves. You don’t necessarily need to practice every category of self care everyday, but women especially should get into the habit of trying to practice at least one activity or self care habit a day, to establish a routine.

I highly encourage everyone, but especially women to adopt these practices, and watch as their life improves. If you try out and of these habits, or maybe you are already doing them then I would love to hear from you, so feel free to email me or leave a comment below. And don’t forget to share this article with your friends and family, and on social media.